'Braincation': The new wellbeing trend you need to know about

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Feeling overwhelmed? It might be time to book yourself a Braincation. Here’s everything you know about the latest wellness trend.

Do you ever turn off - as in, completely switch off? Perhaps you like to schedule in the occasional day spa visit or even take an annual health retreat to put your feet up and clear your head.

However, the constant and steady stream of information you consume on a daily basis can prove overwhelming and frustrating in the short-term, and detrimental to your health in the long-term.

Behold the 'Brain Spa'. Yep, they are now a thing.

What is a Braincation?

A new concept in wellness, The Braincation, has been introduced at London’s Corinthia Hotel to help reset mindsets and maximise brainpower. Best known for its lush spa packages and luxurious accommodation, the Corinthia is now adding an on-call neuroscientist to the mix within their ‘Brain Power Residential Package’, and the wellness warriors of the world are watching with bated breath!

Dr. Tara Swart, doctor, leadership coach, author, and neuroscientist, is now in residence at the hotel to help guests make the most of their mental powers professionally, and learn how to power down privately.

The package is book-ended by mindfulness sessions and seminars, and includes a bespoke ‘Brain Power Menu’ - with raw kale and cognition-boosting coconut oil dishes. It also features heated marble floors to help ‘neutralise the effects of electromagnetic interference on the brain-body system’, blackout blinds and lavender scented rooms to aid sleep, mindfulness massages and sleep pods for power napping.

Why take a Braincation?

Although the graceful and historical Corinthia Hotel is be credited with the future wellness trend, it’s sure to catch on soon in a country near you! Why? Well, when you think about it, there are plenty of detox and wellness getaways to replenish the body, and oodles of meditation and yoga retreats to recalibrate the soul, so it’s only natural that experts are now turning towards brain health.

And by the sounds of it, a Braincation would prove as beneficial to a super busy CEO as it will to an on-the-run mum.

Dr. Swart says that the rise of digital technology has increased the amount of information that consumers encounter on a daily basis, which can have a detrimental effect on their ability to focus. “Our brains have not yet evolved to cope with this change and are not designed to multi-task,’ she says. “Having to constantly flit between tasks can tire us out and make us stressed, which negatively affects productivity levels.”

The package also features a series of talks on a variety of topics, from the science of the brain to politics, and a Brain Lab, where guests can learn to develop mental resilience.

In Dr. Swart's case, the techniques she introduces to guests during their stay are not just focused on the high-flyers, but anyone who wants to learn how to maximize their brainpower at work and play, any day.

Dr. Swart's top tips for brain rejuvenation during a busy schedule

Mimic normal sleep patterns at home during travel so that you are never sleep deprived no matter how often you trot the globe for work.

Avoid alcohol as it hinders sleep.

Don’t drink caffeine after 2 pm.

Drink at least half a litre of water for every 15kg of body weight when traveling.

Where you can Braincation

Although the UK-based package is a first, in Australia, the Brain Wellness Spa in Perth is the only day spa in the world that offers extensive treatments for anxiety, depression, PTSD, burnout, negativity and other mental challenges.

With a success rate of 98 per cent, until there are neuroscientists in residence at your local hotel, it may be worth foregoing the raw kale salad and the long-haul flight for a brain reboot in Perth!

I have suffered with PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder since 1990. I am buckets of Medication for those two problems. At the end of January I had a major Heart attack, a stroke and smashed ribs and sternum. I take 11 tablets in the morning and two at night. I have been trying to rean myself off Parnate 10mg tabs. foy the past two months. I have had that Numerous ECT treatments to no avail. I want the world to stop so I can get off.